Gary Teichmann

"I suppose you only have to look at their results there (Thomond Park) to show the effect it has on the Munster team when playing at home. The supporters are very vocal and when you're tired and sore, to hear that sort of encouragement helps you to keep going, to get up and make another tackle or to support an attack.

"You can see that the Munster players are very comfortable dealing with the expectations of a home crowd and that is important. I think for internationals or players of experience, you get a buzz from playing in front of large crowds and I don't find it intimidating. However, for the younger guys or those who haven't played at a higher level, it can get to them.

"It (Thomond Park) is different from an international venue in that the crowd are on top of you a bit more - you can pick up the odd comment from the crowd. I expect them to beat Biarritz."

Richie Collins (Pontypridd)

"I think it is a combination of the size of the crowd they get there and the way Munster play at home that makes it such a daunting task. If you are not well prepared, and I mean mentally as much as physically for the atmosphere that you are going to encounter, then it can be a big shock.

"In our match we found the crowd to be particularly sporting and it was an enjoyable experience, quite apart from the scoreboard obviously - we were hammered.

"I think that you are always going to play better if there's big crowd, irrespective of whether they are making noise for the opposition or not. It's a bit of a cliche, but teams always speak about quietening a crowd when they go away and that is a consideration. What you actually look to do is deny the home team an atmosphere which will lift them. That didn't work out too well for us when we played Munster."

Kevin Maggs

"Given my Limerick ancestry I have to confess I really enjoyed the occasion - obviously that didn't extend to the result. The only other quibble would be a personal one in that I wasn't playing in my preferred position in the centre but on the wing. I thought the atmosphere was tremendous and not daunting.

"It reminded me of the A game against South Africa: I think a team draws from that, especially because the crowd are so vocal, and always constructive in their support. They don't get on to the players when things aren't going well.

"You do notice the noise at Thomond more so than most other grounds, but for most of the internationals in the Bath team that was a positive. Players like that want to play in a ground with a bit of atmosphere; you'd love to do it every week. I don't think that it would be any more intimidating than going to places like Kingsholm."

Rob Howley

"I think we (Cardiff) hold the proud record of being the only team to beat Munster at home (Musgrave Park, 1997) in Europe. Our game against Ulster at Ravenhill this season brought back memories of the '97 game against Munster. They were very similar, a small ground, 12,000 mad Irishmen screaming behind their side and the garryowens going up.

"From what I recall of '97, I think we threw the ball around and tried to play an open game. It's important to be singleminded about the way you want to play. You also have to be strong mentally when you do make mistakes and you make more of those away from home. I think that is a big ask of sides when they go to places like Munster where for some of the players on a team the atmosphere will be intimidating. Somebody or some people generally play poorly and you need to be strong mentally to get over that."

Paul Wallace (Saracens)

"I suppose the first thing that you appreciate is the noise level, whether it's Thomond (it's noisier) or Musgrave Park. You can see that the supporters feel they have a responsibility to the team in terms of generating noise and in trying to lift them. Theirs is a positive influence.

"Like any home crowd, if it is vocal enough, it can influence the referee, indeed the match officials. And when you think how often that happens in rugby it can be a huge advantage. I wouldn't find Thomond Park any more intimidating, as a place to play in then the others (Rodney Parade, Kingsholm).

"Actually I think the main drawback in these grounds for visitors is the refereeing aspect. If you get 10,000 people baying in unison for a possible knock-on, then the official would want to be a pretty strong character to blot out the noise. I think that's why you see so many silly decisions."